- Lead with a clear objective/summary and Education.
- Replace “Work experience” with “Projects”, “Volunteering” or “Relevant experience”.
- Every activity counts if you describe what you did and the result.
- Keep it to one clean page.
What counts as experience?
- School or university projects and group assignments
- Volunteering, clubs, sports team roles
- Babysitting, tutoring, freelancing, family business help
- Internships, job shadowing, summer programs
- Online courses and certificates
- Personal projects: a website, a YouTube channel, an app, an event you organised
Skip the formatting — build it in CV Builder.4.8★ from 148 ratings · iPhone & iPad · Free to download
Section order for a first resume
- Contact details
- Objective or summary
- Education (GPA if 3.0+, relevant courses, awards)
- Projects / volunteering / relevant experience
- Skills (software, languages, soft skills with proof)
- Certifications and activities
Examples you can adapt
Skills that entry-level employers look for
Communication, teamwork, reliability, time management, customer service, Microsoft Office / Google Workspace, social media, languages. Back each soft skill with an example somewhere on the page.
Build your first resume in CV Builder
You don’t need a laptop — students build their first resume on their phone in one sitting.
- Start with Intro and Summary. Write your objective in the Summary section.
- Fill Education first. Add school, degree, dates and achievements.
- Use Custom Sections. Create “Projects” or “Volunteering” to replace work history.
- Add Skills, Languages and Certifications. Show what you can already do.
- Choose a clean template and Download PDF. One page, simple layout.
Add a matching cover letter — it matters more when your resume is short.
Frequently asked questions
What do I put on a resume if I have no experience?
Education, projects, volunteering, extracurricular activities, skills, languages and certifications. Describe each with what you did and the result.
Should a first resume be one page?
Yes. One page is expected for students and first-time job seekers.
Can I make a student resume on my phone?
Yes. CV Builder guides you through each section and lets you add custom sections such as Projects or Volunteering, then exports a PDF.
Ready? Make yours on your iPhone now.4.8★ from 148 ratings · iPhone & iPad · Free to download